InnoCore Pharmaceuticals and Merck KGaA (operating as MilliporeSigma in the US and Canada) have entered into a global cooperation agreement for InnoCore’s proprietary SynBiosys® biodegradable polymer platform. The drug delivery platform can be used to develop sustained release solutions for biologicals in injectable formulations.

Platform for creating sustained release formulations for virtually any class of biological API

“Until now, formulating large biological active pharmaceutical ingredients such as proteins and large peptides into long acting sustained release formulations has been difficult, if not impossible,” said Andrew Bulpin, head of Process Solutions at the Life Science business sector of Merck. “This collaboration will bring long-acting release of protein therapeutics to market, allowing new and potentially life-changing treatments. It will also improve patient compliance by reducing dosing frequency and maintaining drugs at therapeutic levels longer.”

Sustained release solutions play an increasingly important role in drug formulation because they enhance patient adherence. The new proprietary technology developed by InnoCore Pharmaceuticals allows the development of injectable sustained release biological formulations with conserved bioactivity of these sensitive molecules. The SynBiosys® platform can be used for subcutaneous, intramuscular and site-specific injectable formulations in the form of microparticles and implants.

Merck and InnoCore will support customers with formulation, process development and manufacturing services in using this technology to develop injectable sustained release drug products and overcome formulation challenges — especially for large peptides and proteins. This new, large biomolecule formulation and delivery capability complements Merck’s existing portfolio of biodegradable polylactic acid and polylactic glycolic acid (PLA/PLGA) polymers for sustained release in liquid/parenteral formulations. The PLA/PLGA technology applies primarily to small molecules, small hormones and peptides.

“We are very excited that we have been able to set up this important collaboration with Merck, a company that is widely recognized in providing drug formulation solutions for the global life sciences industry,” said Jan Hendriks, CEO, InnoCore Pharmaceuticals.

"This collaboration will bring long-acting release of protein therapeutics to market, allowing new and potentially life-changing treatments. It will also improve patient compliance by reducing dosing frequency and maintaining drugs at therapeutic levels longer.”

Andrew Bulpin, head of Process Solutions at the Life Science business sector of Merck.

About InnoCore Pharmaceuticals

InnoCore Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacturing of injectable sustained release drug delivery products for the treatment of chronic diseases.Since its inception in 2003, InnoCore has successfully established partnerships with biomedical, biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Utilizing its proprietary drug delivery technologies such as its unique SynBiosys® polymer platform, InnoCore develops biodegradable sustained release depots for precisely controlled delivery of therapeutic compounds, including small molecules, peptides and proteins.
Over the years InnoCore's versatile SynBiosys® platform has shown its safety and effectiveness in several pre-clinical and clinical trials. In 2013, the first product with InnoCore's SynBiosys® drug delivery technology incorporated received regulatory approval and is now available in the market. InnoCore Pharmaceuticals is privately owned and is located in Groningen, The Netherlands.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Almost 53,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions.